Zachary Michael Woirhaye booking photo from the Cache County Jail.
LOGAN — A 38-year-old Logan man convicted of starving his one-month old baby to death has been sentenced to one year in jail. Zachary Michael Woirhaye escaped a prison sentence after a judge said the victim’s death was partially due to a negligent community.
Woirhaye was sentenced Monday afternoon in 1st District Court. He previously accepted a plea deal, pleading guilty to one count of child abuse homicide, a second-degree felony.
On Dec. 31, 2021, Logan City Police officers were called to a hotel room. Woirhaye and 34-year-old Jodi Lee Anderson had been residing at the hotel for several weeks. A 46-day-old infant boy was found lying on a bed, unresponsive, not breathing and with no heartbeat.
Paramedics transported the baby to Logan Regional Hospital and later to Primary Children’s Hospital. Medical staff said the boy was unhealthy, and showed signs of malnourishment and neglect. He died two weeks later.
Police later interviewed extended family members, who expressed concerns about both Woirhaye and Anderson’s mental capacity. They claimed the couple had to be continually reminded about feeding the child enough baby formula.
Woirhaye and Anderson were originally charged with aggravated murder, a capital offense. Jodi was also charged with obstructing justice, a second-degree felony.
During Monday’s sentencing, defense attorney Jonathan Nish said both defendants had mental health issues and didn’t intentionally starve the baby. He said Woirhaye would carry the loss of his child for the rest of his life.
Cache County Deputy Attorney Ronnie Keller said prosecutors believe Anderson was more responsible for the baby’s death than Woirhaye. He said the defendant still failed to provide for the child’s needs.
Woirhaye spoke briefly, telling the court how he had asked Anderson to feed the baby before going to work.
Judge Spencer Walsh said Woirhaye and Anderson had no business being parents, and lacked the knowledge and resources to care for the baby. He described the case as heartbreaking and sad, sentencing the defendant to 365 days in jail, giving credit for 249 days already served.
Judge Walsh said the community needs to reflect on what happened and why no one intervened before the baby’s death. He also ordered Woirhaye to have no contact with minors in the future without adult supervision.
Anderson remains in jail and is scheduled to appear for a status hearing April 10. She has yet to enter a plea to the charges.